GREER HIGH SCHOOL

ARTICLE ARCHIVES

The Greater Greer Education Foundation presented $20,582 in grant money to 18 school and community projects in Greenville and Spartanburg counties at a reception Jan. 26, 2016 at Greer City Hall.

Brent Garrett, chairman of the Foundation, welcomed grant recipients and their guests. “Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded grants and scholarships totaling more than $182,000,” Garrett said. “It is because of our sponsors and community support, that we can award these grants today.”

Garrett also praised the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce for their GreerMade program. “Most of our students who receive grants go to schools that prepare them for work at local companies and suppliers. By staying in Greer, they continue to make Greer “the place to be.”

David Dolge, chairman of the Foundation’s Grants Committee, commented: "As a retired educator, being a member of a Foundation that gives money to educators and students is a privilege for me. Our classrooms are filled with very competent teachers and their needs, to effectively serve their students, are great.

"?I love fulfilling teachers' wishes," he said.

Dolge then presented grants ranging from $400 to $1,500 to:

Sherry Smith, Tigerville Elementary Grant amount: $400Smith has plans for an arts “career” where students 3rd-5th grades will rotate throughout the year in their art classes, working at a drafting table complete with artist’s chair, special desk top lighting as well as learning to use a light box to gain the experience of taking ownership of a potential career in the arts.

Lisa Hansen, Tigerville Elementary School Grant amount: $829.50Hansen plans to include “BreakoutEDU” kits for each of your grade level teams, a game to encourage students to think critically using problem solving and trouble shooting, which promoting teamwork.

Diane Jackson, Tigerville Elementary SchoolGrant amount: $752.93Jackson plans to purchase electronic renewal subscriptions to “Reading A to Z” or the updated program “Rax Kids” for each grade level at Tigerville.

Carol C. Godfrey, Skyland Elementary School Grant amount: $1,500Godfrey plans to introduce students to the local history and folk tradition of the Blue Ridge community by giving them an opportunity to hear live traditional folk music, meet a local folk musician and play a folk instrument.

Jody Dill, Mountain View Elementary School Grant amount: $490.80Dill plans to purchase four Hokki stools to go along with the two currently in use. The goal is to use these stools to help special needs student gain the wiggle room they need while reading or taking tests. The ergonomic stools keep students moving, while they are sitting still.

Amy Holcombe, Greer High School Grant amount: $1,463Holcombe plans to purchase pocketsize portable devices that read text out loud or can be used with headphones. “Students will be able to do research and come to their own opinions based on what they have discovered. Being able to read is vital to communication.”

Kara Ponder, Greer High School Grant amount: $1,479.76Ponder plans to purchase two iPad Pros and 2 Apple pencils for students to use to make learning engaging and fun. Ponder said he plans to use the iPads and Apple Pencils to enhance and supplement their learning of content taught in the regular education classes. An additional benefit will be a heightened interest in learning and a boost in student confidence.

Shelly Eubanks, Dunbar Child Development Center Grant amount: $1,386.48Ponder plans to purchase an Osmo play system for iPad, which takes iPads into a whole new level of learning. The system impacts the students’ learning in the areas of technology, math, literacy, creativity and social skills.

Jackie Knafelc, D.R. Hill Middle School Grant amount: $750Knafelc plans to continue to grow the butterfly garden at her school by adding more railroad ties and smaller gardens around the space, also using railroad ties. The space will include an herb garden, a vegetable garden, a flower garden and walkways. The garden also helps students create relationships with each other.

Kate Canterbury, Crestview Elementary School Grant amount: $1,500Canterbury plans to purchase a Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention Kit for use with struggling first grade readers. The kit will provide high-interest, appropriately leveled materials for support at school and at home.

Alicia Keller, Chandler Creek Elementary School Grant amount: $1,400Keller plans to purchase materials available for teachers to use with students identified as autistic with autism, anxiety and ADHD. The materials will be included in “toolboxes” which can help students calm down. The toolboxes also make an impact on instruction across the school.

Jennifer Dodds, Tyson Wright, Kevin Washington, Chandler Creek Elementary School Grant amount: $1,100Dodds, Wright and Washington will continue their Works in Progress program that teaches students how to dress and act like gentlemen. Students are taught how to shake hands, open doors, make eye contact and address someone older with respect.

CLEMSON — A team of Clemson University researchers and an Upstate businessman believe they can help make football a little safer by creating a facemask that can help reduce the severity of head injuries by increasing overall helmet protection.

The researchers are Gregory Batt, an assistant professor in the Clemson food, nutrition and packaging sciences department; John DesJardins, an associate professor of bioengineering and director of the Laboratory of Orthopaedic Design and Engineering; and Alex Bina, a doctoral student in bioengineering who also is a graduate research assistant in food, nutrition and packaging sciences. They are teaming up with Jay Elmore, owner of Green Gridiron to determine how future designs of facemasks can help improve the overall safety of football helmets.